Photo Source: Encyclopædia Britannica
For more than a decade now the war in Sudan has been an ongoing battle which has proved devastating to many who live there, especially the Dinka. The Dinka were once South Sudan’s richest and proudest tribe. Unfortunately though, they are now the opposite. Culture and customs of the Dinka tribe are based heavily on the symbol of cattle. They used cattle as a symbol of weath and most importantly, a gift to the girl’s family during the dowry rituals. Now, they use the promise of cattle because the war has wiped out the cattle.
So, the customs, rituals, and beliefs which once centered around cattle now are being changed. Songs and stories of greatness are no longer heard. The Dinka now believe they are being punished for once giving so much of their life to one animal.
After I viewed the video slideshow about Arek, the former slave in South Sudan, there was a piece of information about a Dinka community group that interested me. I had never heard of the Dinka before so I googled it, thus, coming across this article. I learned the Dinka is a tribe, once of great stature, characterized by a distinct appearance. Dinka p
eople had very dark skin, almond shaped eyes, square-narrow shoulders, tall, and a tribal scar on their forehead. One thing that ties this in with our curriculum is the source of the war. Our last unit focused a lot on the religion mix of Christianity and Islam. The conflict between the north (Islamic) and south (Christian) have left the country in turmoil, destroying most of its institutions and infrastructures. Many schools were destroyed as well, leaving a whole generation illiterate. Like when the Europeans took over Africa, many dialects, cultures, beliefs, and families have been lost and torn apart.
After I viewed the video slideshow about Arek, the former slave in South Sudan, there was a piece of information about a Dinka community group that interested me. I had never heard of the Dinka before so I googled it, thus, coming across this article. I learned the Dinka is a tribe, once of great stature, characterized by a distinct appearance. Dinka p
eople had very dark skin, almond shaped eyes, square-narrow shoulders, tall, and a tribal scar on their forehead. One thing that ties this in with our curriculum is the source of the war. Our last unit focused a lot on the religion mix of Christianity and Islam. The conflict between the north (Islamic) and south (Christian) have left the country in turmoil, destroying most of its institutions and infrastructures. Many schools were destroyed as well, leaving a whole generation illiterate. Like when the Europeans took over Africa, many dialects, cultures, beliefs, and families have been lost and torn apart.Photo Source: shezaf.net
Article Source: www.washingtonpost.com
No comments:
Post a Comment